Match Centre: Rugby World Cup Pool C: Fiji 17-12 Georgia

Fiji 17-12 Georgia, Pool C, Stade de Bordeaux

Fiji have closed on a quarter-final berth in the ongoing Rugby World Cup campaign as they edged out Georgia 17-12 in their Pool C encounter in Bordeaux on Saturday.

The win for Fiji came despite yellow cards to Semi Radradra and Josua Tuisova as they consolidated their second place in the table with 10 points from three games while Georgia are at fourth position with three points. With Wales already qualified, Fiji will be facing Portugal in their final match of the group stage.

This will also be Fiji's first qualification to quarter-final since 2007 if they make it which could end Australia's chances in the competition.

Luka Matkava started the proceedings with an early fifth minute penalty goal before Georgia lost Tengizi Zamtaradze to a wrist injury in the 12th minute with Tengizi Zamtaradze making his World Cup debut. As Georgia were caught the wrong side at the ruck, Fiji had a chance to extend their lead but Simione Kuruvoli's kick went wide as the score remained at 0-3.

Georgia doubled their tally as Davit Niniashvili kicked a 60m penalty goal after Fiji were penalised when scrambling in defence and soon it became 0-9 with Fiji penalised for an offside. Georgia thought they extended the score further when Akaki Tabutsadze but was turned down by the TMO following a forward pass in the build up as the opening half came to an end with a 0-9 scoreline.

Fiji were down to 14 players temporarily early in the second half as Radradra was sin-binned but despite the setback they scored the opening try of the game after they worked the ball in phases sending a wide pass for Waisea Nayacelevu to dive in the corner. Lomani kicked the conversion as the scoreline became 7-9.

Fiji had a chance to get into the lead as Lomani's penalty goal went wide but he made amends in the 64th minute with another three-pointer following another handling error from Georgia making it 10-9. Fiji soon seized control in the game as Botia sent a perfect over the shoulder offload for Vinaya Habosi to dot down. Lomani kicked the extras as they extended their lead to 17-9.

The closing stage of the game saw Tuisova becoming the second Fiji player to be sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Miriani Modebadze as Matkava's fourth penalty goal helped Georgia reduce the losing margin to five points.

Points Table: Pool C

Position	Team	Played	Won	Lost	Points
1	Wales	3	3	0	14
2	Fiji	3	2	1	10
3	Australia	3	1	2	6
4	Georgia	3	0	1	3
5	Portugal	2	0	1	2

What's next:

Fiji will be taking on Portugal in their final game of the group stage at Stadium de Toulouse on 8th October while Georgia will face Wales in Nantes on 7th October.

Team line up:

Fiji: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Selesitino Ravutaumada, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (c), 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Semi Radradra, 10 Teti Tela, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Levani Botia, 6 Lekima Tagitagivalu, 5 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Luke Tagi, 2 Samuel Matavesi, 1 Eroni Mawi

Reserves: 16 Tevita Ikanivere, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Temo Mayanavanua, 20 Albert Tuisue, 21 Frank Lomani, 22 Vilimoni Botitu, 23 Vinaya Habosi

Georgia: 15 Miriani Modebadze, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Demur Tapladze, 12 Giorgi Kveseladze, 11 Davit Niniashvili, 10 Luka Matkava, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Tornike Jalagonia, 7 Beka Saginadze, 6 Mikheil Gachechiladze, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 4 Lasha Jaiani, 3 Beka Gigashvili, 2 Tengizi Zamtaradze, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili (c)

Reserves: 16 Luka Nioradze, 17 Nika Abuladze, 18 Irakli Aptsiauri, 19 Nodar Cheishvili, 20 Luka Ivanishvili, 21 Gela Aprasidze, 22 Tedo Abzhandadze, 23 Tornike Kakhoidze